That Contentious Bay Test Again
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IF the lock of a multi-wheeled rigid
vehicle is adequate, it should be possible for the driver to reverse his lorry into the bay in one or two shunts, without error. But locks vary, to the detriment of the unfortunate. Moreover, the success of a heavy vehicle in this test may require that the front wheel be turned when the lorry is stationary, which may be virtually impossible without power-assisted steering.
Certainly, at the Coventry round on Sunday, success in the bay test appeared to be impossible in the case of some of the multi-wheelers without a superabundance of brute force rather than a reasonable amount of skill. It was a relief when the artic tests started, because it was then obvious that the drivers' skill was the main factor in the manreuvring feat.
In neither case was the sweat on the
waiting drivers' brows entirely attributable to the hot sun, and it is notable that Cpl. D. M. ReadmIn (the 1961 Lorry Driver of the Year), who won the class S in an Austin 3-ton tilt-type vehicle came tenth (and last) in the Coventry and District championship event. His penalty points in the run-off were 195 compared with the seven which were all he lost in the class event.
G. Beezley won class G for B.R.S., in a Bristol with a penalty of 146 points in this test and a total of 313. T. Normington gave an immaculate bay test performance with a loss of five points to win class Fl with a total penalty of 96, of which 70 were lost on the width judging test
Width Test Trouble
On average, the width test took a higher toll of the winners and runners-up
than the bay test, a penally of under 5' points being achieved by a very, SIM. minority. It could reasonably be claime that this test was unfair to the better than-average driver, whilst the bay te unfairly multiplied the results of sma initial errors. The kerb parking test cod be sited as the only one in which th penalty accurately matched the errors c judgment.
This quibbling on technical detail i! however, diversionary if the best is to b given full credit and this credit goes t J. Hough of the British Oxygen Co., Ltd who won class B at the wheel of Bedford, with a loss of 107 points, th Coventry and District Championship i an Austin 5-tonner (with a total of 11 points in the three tests) and the away for the best C-licence driver. In his clas win he lost 59 points in the width-judgin test and only two in the bay test, respet tive penalties in the run-off being 6 and 46.
The Local Championship
The inclusion of a local charripionshi event followed last year's precedent an was welcomed by the majority of con petitors in particular by the drivers c heavier vehicles who had lost a lot r points in the bay test. Supplied by Parl side Garages, Ltd. and Bridge Cloc Motors, Ltd. the vehicles comprised a Austin, and a Morris 5-ton platform lorr on which was carried sheeted boxes 1 simulate a van body.
Runner-up in the championship (or point behind the winner) S. Smith dro‘ a Commer for Humber, Ltd., to win ch. C with a total of 75. Disappointingl last year's champion and class winner Tarn of Whitworth Gloster Aircraft, Lt, failed to challenge the leaders in class F He was driving an Austin low-loadl outfit. P.A.C.B.